Policies and General Information

International Student Admissions

The university welcomes applications from international students.

Academic Documents

International applicants must submit official original transcripts of all secondary and postsecondary education, including final exam results. If documents are not in English, certified translations are required. Information regarding certified translation services can be obtained at the applicant's embassy or through the University Language Services or by phone within the U.S. at (800) 419-4601. Outside the U.S., call (212) 766-4111. This information is provided for your convenience only. All arrangements must be made directly with the translation option of your choice.

Standardized Tests

Students applying as first-year candidates must present official scores from either the SAT or the ACT (with writing). If English is not the student’s first language, official scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) will need to be submitted. UVM requires a minimum band IELTS score of 6.5, a minimum iBT score of 79-80 or 550 paper-based TOEFL. For information about test dates and sites for SAT exams, contact the College Board; for ACT exams, contact ACT; for TOEFL, contact TOEFL; and for IELTS, contact IELTS. If an international student has attended a U.S. institution for three or more years, the Office of Admissions may waive the requirement for TOEFL or IELTS scores on a case-by-case basis.

UVM Global Gateway Program

The University of Vermont offers a pathway program to bring academically-prepared international students to the UVM to complete English language course work as well as UVM courses. The two-term pathway sequence will be designed to prepare students academically and socially for progression to degree status with 24 to 28 credits, assuming they meet all program standards.

Admission to the UVM Global Gateway program is competitive. Eligible students should have the equivalent of a minimum secondary school grade-point average of 2.75-3.00 on a US 4.00 scale (or country/regional equivalent) and a TOEFL iBT (or equivalent) of 65-68 or IELTS of 6.0. UVM Global Gateway applicants must meet the minimum entrance requirements for the college or school they choose. Eligible students are offered conditional admission to the University of Vermont undergraduate degree program and will progress to degree status by successful completion of the UVM Global Gateway program with a cumulative grade-point average at UVM of 2.50.

The application for the UVM Global Gateway program can be found at the Global Gateway website. For more information, contact the UVM Global Gateway program office from uvm@studygroup.com.

US-Sino Pathway Program (USPP)

The U.S.-Sino Pathway Program (USPP) is a partnership between the Consortium of North American Universities (CNAU), comprising Baylor University, DePaul University, George Mason University, Marist College, Northeastern University, Stevens Institute of Technology, and the University of Vermont, and global education service provider Kaplan China. The program provides a success-oriented pathway for talented Chinese students to pursue undergraduate studies in the U.S. at one of the CNAU partner institutions.

USPP students start the program with a full year of college-level course work in China. Students who select UVM as their destination institution then enter a ten-week Summer Bridge program on the UVM campus. Successful completion of the Summer Bridge program will lead to matriculation in the fall semester with second-year status. Students are offered conditional admission to UVM on the basis of their performance in the credit-bearing courses taken during the fall and spring semesters in China with at least a 2.70 cumulative grade-point average. Final admission is granted on the basis of grades earned in the UVM Summer Bridge program. USPP students must meet the minimum entrance requirements for the college or school they choose. Students who matriculate into UVM through the US-Sino Pathway Program are considered for merit-based scholarship assistance. For more details, visit the
Student Financial Services website.

Financial Support for International Students

Most international students pay the full cost of attending UVM; students attending on non-immigrant student visas are charged out-of-state tuition rates. The university offers merit-based scholarships to international students each year. All international students are considered for these merit-based scholarships; no additional application is required. Information about merit scholarships for international students may be found at: the Student Financial Services website.

Form I-20

International students requiring an F-1 student visa to begin studies at the University of Vermont must complete the I-20 request process with UVM’s Office of International Education. The I-20 form can only be issued when a student has been formally admitted to UVM and has provided proof of sufficient financial support to cover educational expenses for one full academic year. The student must provide documentation for all sources of financial support. Financial documents must be submitted in English, state an exact currency amount (preferably in U.S. dollars) and be less than six months old at the point of submission for I-20 issuance.

For more information on obtaining an I-20, contact the Office of International Education, 633 Main St., Living/Learning B162, Burlington, VT 05405; Tel: 011-802-656-4296 or visit the Office of International Education website.

Transfer Credit for International Students

International students who have attended postsecondary institutions in their home country may be eligible for UVM credit under the Transfer Credit Policy guidelines. International students should submit comprehensive course descriptions and outlines, translated in English, to the Office of Transfer Affairs, 360 Waterman Building, Burlington, VT 05405-0160, USA. Submission of these materials helps the Office of Transfer Affairs prepare a full credit evaluation prior to enrollment at UVM. All translations must be certified by the school of record or by an official NACES member translation agency. Translations must accompany all original documentation. Students with post-secondary college level course work may wish to have their credentials evaluated for U.S. academic equivalents. For more information, please contact the Office of Transfer Affairs at (802) 656-0867, or email: transfer@uvm.edu.